Chalk talk: Saints vs. Cardinals: How the units stack up

Before every Saints game, I break down the contest in several categories.

In Week Three, New Orleans hosts the Arizona Cardinals in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Kickoff is set for noon Sunday.

Saints rushing offense versus Cardinals rushing defense

The Saints’ rushing attack has been next to nonexistent. Despite winning both games, New Orleans is yet to score a rushing touchdown. Mark Ingram has received the most carries of any of the backs, but he’s got a pitiful 1.8 yards per rush. Pierre Thomas’ 72 yards on 14 carries for 5.1 yards per rush may make you wonder why he isn’t touching the ball a little more, but when he’s healthy come December and January (if the Saints get that far), you’ll know why.

Arizona has given up the third-fewest rushing yards (116) in the league through the first two weeks. The Cardinals are also one of 10 teams that have not given up a score on the ground yet. Granted, St. Louis and Detroit don’t scare anybody on the ground, but that’s a nice start.

Big advantage for the Cardinals, but I’ve been saying it in this feature since before week one: winning the battle on the ground really doesn’t mean a whole lot in today’s NFL. So far, the Saints are proving me right.

Advantage: Cardinals

Saints passing offense versus Cardinals passing defense

Through three games, Drew Brees just hasn’t quite been Drew Brees. Sure, he’s thrown for 637 yards and three scores, but it’s his three picks (including a pick-six last week) and six sacks that have him flying below his ridiculously lofty standards.

Considering the Cardinals have faced a pair of strong passing offenses in St. Louis and Detroit, they’ve pretty much held their own. 572 combined passing yards for four combined passing touchdowns is respectable versus those teams. Granted, both numbers would be higher if not for the heroics of rookie from LSU Tyrann Mathieu versus Jared Cook Week One, but that’s what the Honey Badger does. Just when you think you have him beat, here he comes out of nowhere, boom.

If Brees (and the receivers after the catch) can hold on to the football, the Saints should win this matchup. But a couple of costly turnovers can sway even a dominant performance the other way. Because I so blindly believe in Brees and because Arizona has had absolutely no pass rush in 2013, I’m going with the black and gold.

Advantage: Saints

Cardinals rushing offense versus Saints rushing defense

Rashard Mendenhall has taken over as Arizona’s top back. He’s rushed for 126 yards and a score in two games as the bell cow. Not the greatest production in the world. From Edgerrin James to Emmitt Smith to now Mendenhall, the Cardinals have been unable to find anything more than cast-offs (or bad draft picks) at the running back position for years now.

The Saints’ run defense has been the definition of bend but don’t break in 2013. Sure, they’ve given up 243 yards and 5.3 yards per carry, but no rushing touchdowns, so no real harm done. Last week, Doug Martin gashed them a bit to the tune of 144 rushing yards, but no rushing touchdowns, so no real harm done.

The Saints’ run defense has made critical stops when it’s needed to, and I see that continuing this week.

Advantage: Saints

Cardinals passing offense versus Saints passing defense

Halleluiah! The Cardinals have finally found a competent signal caller. Never mind that he’s years past his prime. At least he’s not John Skelton, Kevin Kolb or….gulp…. Ryan Lindley!

The acquisition of Carson Palmer has rejuvenated life into the career of Larry Fitzgerald, and all of a sudden we’re remembering that Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts are pretty doggone good receivers, too. Fitzgerald may not play with a hamstring issue, though.

Out of nowhere, the Saints have a pretty damn good defense. They made Matt Ryan look human, and they completely humbled Josh Freeman after he found success on the first drive of the game. New Orleans overcame the loss of Patrick Robinson for a half. Now with Chris Carr in his spot, he’ll see if they can overcome yet another injury.

This matchup looks pretty even, so the intangibles may sway it one way or another. If New Orleans just simply can’t guard Fitzgerald, the Cardinals will win it. But if the Saints can use a loud Dome to put pressure on a Cardinals O-Line that’s already surrendered five sacks, long-yardage situations could result in patented Palmer mistakes. I’m going to push, because I can see it going either way Fitzgerald or not, and this matchup may determine the outcome of the game.

Push

Special teams

Both teams have had good kicking and punting games through two weeks. Garrett Hartley is 6-for-7 with his miss coming from 43-yards out, and Jay Feely is 5-for-6 with his miss coming from 50-yards out.

Dave Zastudil has been comparable to Thomas Morstead through two games, and that’s tough to do. Both have been incredible at downing punts inside the 20 without booming them into the end zone.

The difference in special teams could come in the return game. With all due respect to Darren Sproles, Patrick Peterson could go down as one of the best return men of all time. Arizona also has Javier Arenas and Mathieu to choose from in that department. If special teams sway the balance Sunday, I think Arizona has a better chance to do it, so gimmie the Cards.

Advantage: Cardinals

Coaching

No assistant coach in the history of the game has guaranteed himself a head coaching job the following year more than Bruce Arians. When Chuck Pagano was forced to step aside with leukemia last year, Arians not only kept the Colts afloat but led them to the playoffs.

However, few coaches have established the pedigree of Sean Payton. Maybe more amazing than the Super Bowl ring is that I can’t remember Payton ever being out-coached.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."